Multifunctional double network hydrogel film for skin wound healing

Abstract

Skin wound management is an important issue in the medical community. Herein, we report a multifunctional film with many advanced features as a dressing for the healing of wounds. The dressing was made using chitosan and poly(acrylamide) (pAAm) hydrogel in order to form a double network (DN) hydrogel film. Compared to the pure chitosan hydrogel, which is fragile, the added pAAm network conferred excellent mechanical capability to the composite film, making it flexible and easy to treat. By further doping the hydrogel with carbon nanotubes and drugs, the film could promote wound healing. Animal experiments demonstrated that the DN hydrogel film could reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration. Thus, this film is promising as a treatment for wound healing.